Leaving Las Vegas

Celine Dion has called it quits after a five year run at Caesar’s Palace in Vegas.

At first, at times, the pairing of the Canadian ballad buster and the city that gave good taste a bad name, seemed confusing to some critics.

Yet it sometimes became a “Where’s Waldo” game to find the star amid the 50 dancers in front of the 39-foot-tall video screen. And her role in the huge pop opera often was relegated to providing the soundtrack for the lavish visuals.

But to some extent, Dragone was only playing the cards he was dealt. By this point in Dion’s career, the Belgian director faced a big disconnection between the singer’s melodramatic, oh-so earnest songbook and the chatty, slightly awkward demeanor she projects when she isn’t singing.

And Dion admits that it wasn’t always smooth sailing.

“At one point, it was like feeling like the Titanic was about to sink again,” she said. “But we believed and we went on with it. Even though the vibe was not that positive for us.”

She considered throwing in the towel.

“I had a life for the first time,” the French-Canadian chanteuse said in a video before her 717th show. “I knew then that I wanted to have more success as a mother than a singer.”

Her manager/husband Renee Angelil showed support and urged the songbird to continue.

After all, her initial three year contract for $100 Million was unprecedented. She would just have to sacrifice. Hey, at least she wasn’t on the road.

“Most of us have left our families behind to give ourselves every night,” she said. “I can assure you it was worth it.”

It certainly was worth it. In the end, the show grossed more than $400 million and was seen by nearly 3 million fans.

Don’t get down in the dumps children’s. I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of Celine Dion. It would be great if she did some more covers of classic hard rock songs (I swear I saw her doing “You Shook Me All Night Long” on some TV show. Was it just a beautiful dream?). Personally, I’d like to see her take a crack at Iron Maiden’s “Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter”.

Whatever you decide, Celine Dion, we wish you well.